Washington Food Market a community gem

Susan Tuz

Published 9:12 pm, Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Verrastro family and its staff pride themselves on the courteous and friendly service at the Washington Food Market. June 2013
Photo: Norm Cummings

The Verrastro family and its staff pride themselves on the...

George and Jocelyne Verrastro have teamed up to operate the Washington Food Market with help from daughters Michelle Mott, center, and Lisa Stein, and son Mark Verrastro. June 2013
Photo: Norm Cummings

George and Jocelyne Verrastro have teamed up to operate the...

George and Jocelyne Verrastro have teamed to operate the Washington Food Market with lots of help from their daughters, Michelle Mott, center, and Lisa Stein, and son Mark Verrastro. June 2013
Photo: Norm Cummings

WASHINGTON DEPOT -- Forty years ago, Gene Verrastro and his brother-in-law, Vincent Anelli, fell in love with a little town along the Shepaug River.

The two men were looking for a new location for what had been a successful run from 1955 to 1973 of owning two food markets in Waterbury.

Four decades later, Verrastro's family continues to run the product of that search -- the Washington Food Market, in the heart of Washington Depot's Bryan Memorial Plaza. Through it all, the market has prided itself on its special bond with the community.

"I was in college when Dad and Uncle Vincent purchased this store in 1973 from Red DiVittorio," recalled George Verrastro, who now owns and manages the market.

Anelli, who ran the meat department, died in 1983. Gene Verrastro continued to run the market, with the help of other family members.

"My brother, Paul, was directly involved in the day-to-day until I came back in 1989 and Dad went into semi-retirement," Verrastro said.

"It was a great experience working side by side with Dad," Verrastro added. "I inherited the satisfaction of working every day with the same people who have been our customers seemingly forever."

Earlier this summer, the market celebrated its 40th anniversary under the Verrastro ownership.

"What we are about is our connection with this town. Dad and Uncle Vincent were great at building connections with their customers," Verrastro said. "As a kid, I didn't realize how you grow your business through that. But I came to learn."

Lynette Cornell has been a customer of the market since DiVittorio owned the store.

"George's father was a great friend," she said. "They used to deliver, which was very convenient. They're so friendly there and nice to deal with. They always give to every kind of organization. I remember the raffle prize they provided for a Rumsey Hall fundraiser."

"The winner got to run through the store with a shopping cart for so many minutes and fill it with anything but meat, no meat," Cornell recalled. "They're one of the remaining, nice, small mom and pop stores. They're special."

Verrastro credits the market's success and longevity to three factors: a loyal customer base, a longtime staff and a strong family work ethic.